# A systematic review and meta-analysis of postoperative intervention effects in elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer based on the protection motivation theory

## TL;DR

This study shows that using the Protection Motivation Theory for postoperative care helps elderly gastrointestinal cancer patients recover better, with fewer complications and improved quality of life.

## Contribution

The study provides the first meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness of PMT-based interventions in elderly gastrointestinal cancer patients.

## Key findings

- PMT interventions significantly reduced postoperative complication rates compared to conventional care.
- PMT interventions led to lower psychological stress scores in elderly patients after surgery.
- Quality of life scores were significantly better in the PMT intervention group.

## Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effect of postoperative interventions based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) on postoperative recovery in elderly gastrointestinal cancer patients, providing scientific evidence to support clinical practice and improving postoperative recovery quality and survival rates in elderly patients.

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, with relevant studies retrieved from multiple Chinese and English databases. The studies selected met the inclusion criteria, involving elderly gastrointestinal cancer patients aged 60 years or older, and interventions guided by PMT, including health education, behavior modification, or psychological interventions. The primary outcomes assessed were postoperative complication rates, psychological stress scores, and quality of life scores.

A total of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included, with a total of 319 participants. Meta-analysis results indicated that the PMT intervention group had a significantly lower postoperative complication rate compared to the conventional health education group (MD = 1.81, 95% CI:1.30–2.53, P = 0.0005). The PMT intervention group also showed significantly lower postoperative psychological stress scores than the conventional group (MD = -15.64, 95% CI: -17.34 to -13.95, P < 0.00001). Moreover, the PMT intervention group exhibited significantly better postoperative quality of life scores compared to the conventional care group (MD=-8.99, 95% CI:-9.60 to-8.38, P < 0.00001).

Postoperative interventions based on the Protection Motivation Theory can significantly improve postoperative recovery in elderly gastrointestinal cancer patients by enhancing recovery outcomes, reducing complication rates, improving psychological stress levels, and enhancing quality of life, demonstrating strong clinical application value.